Rotating game pointer



March l, 1949. c. BENKER ROTATING GAME POINTER Filed Feb. 26. 1946 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l A T T ORA/EVS.

March l, 1949. c. BENKER 2,463,139

ROTATING GAME POINTER Filed Feb. 26, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TToR NEYS.

Patented Mar. 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ROTATING GAME POINTER Charles Benker, North Attleboro, Mass'.

Application February 26, 194.6, Serial No. 650,239

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a game apparatus of a type which may be utilized for the playing of the game Bingo, which may provide amusement for a large number of people.

In the operation of certain amusement devices, some means is provided by which a player indicates whether or not a certain number appears in the game. There is some possibility of a persons missing hearing the number or misunderstanding the number, or otherwise being at fault in taking some action such as covering the number which appears, which human errors may disturb the game which is being played.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide -an apparatus which will positively indicate a number which has been chosen in the playing fof the game, thus removing the chance of human fault, which may cause an error in the playing of the game.

Another object of this invention is to provide means by which the playing of the game may be made automatic with little chance of error.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus wherein if a number has once appeared in the game, it cannot again appear until the game apparatus has been reset.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game which may be played more quickly by reason of the instantaneous indication to each player of the number which has been chosen.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement whereby all of the playing boards which are used in the game will operate simultaneously as to any number should the number which is chosen appear on that board.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement so that all of the boards may be reset to starting position once the game is completed.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost of production and which will be satisfactory in use.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of a fragmental portion of game apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 showing the selector arm in a .diierent position;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a fragmental portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a bank of interceptors;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the switch employed in this apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the individual boards or devices forming part of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuit between the selector mechanism and the individual boards.

In carrying out the invention as applied to the game of Bingo, I provided a plurality of play cards or boards and these are divided in a manner so as to provide ve vertical and ve horizontal rows of numbered squares. The numbers which are selected for each of the squares will be so selected that each game board will be different. In each square a lamp will be mounted and all lamps from like numbered squares from all cf the play boards will be electrically connected to be lighted as a group. A switch is provided for controlling all of the lamps in like numbered squares in all of the boards. Each switch is controlled by an interceptor which is movable by means of a selector element.

With reference to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, I D designates generally a fragmentary portion of the selector part of my invention. The selector may consist of a frame Work II supporting an upper deck I2, a lower deck I 3, and an intermediate deck I4. The upper deck I2 is provided with a plurality of openings I5. These openings are equally spaced from each other and may be positioned on a circle described from the center of the deck. The intermediate deck I 4 is also provided with a plurality of openings I6 similarly spaced and in line with the openings I5. Through these openings are slidably mounted interceptors Il.

There are a plurality of these interceptors, there being one for each group of lamps. Each interceptor is identical in construction and comprises a body portion I3 having a slot I9 extend ing laterally therein and a reduced portion providing a shank 2B wl'ch terminates in an enlarged head 2 I. The body I8 is slidably mounted in one of the openings I5 and extends above and below the deck I2 with the slot I9 at a location below the deck I2. The shank 20 depends from the body and extends through an aligned opening I6 in the deck I 4 with the head 2| at a location below the deck. Between each interceptor on the upper surface of the deck are positioned guides 22. These guides may comprise a single annulus 22' are positioned ball bearings.

provided with openings corresponding in number to the openings I and spaced to be in alignment with the openings I5. The material between the opening will be provided in a formation with the apex thereof of a height to extend a distance above the interceptors (see Fig. 4).

On the intermediate deck Iii and adjacent to each interceptor is positioned an electrical switch 23. This switch better shown in section in Fig. 5 is of a toggle type and has a pivoted arm 2d extending outwardly of the body of the switch. The outer free end of the arm is received in the slot I9 of the interceptor. A pull spring 25 has one end thereof anchored to the wall 26 of the switch at a point thereon midway between the throw of the arm 24. The other end of the spring is.

anchored to the arm 2d at a location thereon on the longitudinal axis thereof and on the side of the pivot distal from the wall 26. The spring is of sufficient strength so as to retain the interceptors in the upper position shown in Fig. 1 when the switch is in the open position. When the interceptor is moved downwardly with suiicient force so as to overcome the pull of the spring 25, the same will move the arm 2d to close the switch. The contact C is insulated from the body of the switch and a conductor W extends from the contact and forms part of the wiring circuit as will be hereinafter described. The inner end of the arm 24 forms the other contact of the switch and with the body of the switch is placed in the ground of the circuit which may include the deck I4.

In order to select and move an interceptor to actuate a switch a selector element is provided. The selector element is herein shown in the form of an arm 2l which is mounted on a Vertically disposed shaft 28. This shaft is slidablr mounted in the deck I2, extends centrally through the decks I 3, I il, and finds bearing'at its lower end in a isupport 29. Secured to this shaft at the lower portion thereof is a friction wheel 30, by means of which the shaft is rotated to swing the arm 2l over the interceptors il. The means for actuating this shaft herein shown consists of an electrically operated reversible motor 31 having secured to the shaft thereof, a friction wheel 32 which engages with the wheel 30:

In order to provide that the selector chosen shall be more or less according to chance, I pro-- Vide for the free rotation of the arm 21 and also for a gravitational movement of the arm toward the interceptor so that this arm upon coming to rest will engage an interceptor and by the weight of its associated elements will move this interceptor and the arm 2li of the switch connected thereto so as to close thev switch associated with the chosen interceptor. Accordingly, I mount on the shaft 28 an anti-friction device 33 comprising discs 33', 33, between ywhich The disc 33' is secured to the shaft 28 while the disc 33 is rotatable relative to the shaft 28 and disc 33.

Onthe shaft of the motor 3l is mounted a cam wheel 34, the peripheral cam surface of which engages the disc 33" and provides for vertical reciprocation of the shaft 23. The cam surface is such as to permit a period of engagement of friction wheels 3D, 's2 to establish suflicient Velocity in the rotation ofthe arm to provide a momentum force of a degree as not to be suddenly arrested by its engagement with the guides in.. its movement over the interceptors, that the arm may jump from between one interceptor to another before finally coming to rest. It will be apparent that as the arm is permitted to lower the friction wheels 36 and 32 will become disengaged and free rotation of the shaft 28 and arm 2li' carried thereby will be had. In order to block the rm 2l from engagement with an interceptor once having been moved, I provide a blocking member 35 for each interceptor. Each member 35 is pivotally mounted in asupport 3G by means of a pivot pin Si. Each blocking member 35 has an arm 38 extending from one side of the pivot and is initially positioned to extend horizontally and radially in line with the center of an adjacent interceptor and beneath the initial path of travel of the selector 21. The blocking member 35 is also provided with an arm 39 extending from `the opposite side of the pivot S'I and at rightv angles to the arm 38. This arm 39 is weighted so as to overbalance the arm 38 and a stop l0 in the form of an annulus is positioned to engage the arm 39 so as to prevent movement of member 35m a countereclock-wisedirection.

The arm 2l is constructed'in two sections. Ihe inner section has its vend bifurcated asbestishown in Fig. 3 providing a slot lll in whichfisfreceived the outer lsection @2 of the arm. The section: 42 is pivoted to the inner section as atl d3:y A: stop is provided on the inner section of the arm on one side of the pivot to be engagedl by and arrest any individual movementV ofsection' 42 in a clockwise direction. The section Mfis -pivoted at a location thereon so'a's to beV overbalanced and be normally biased against stop. 44E Asthe shaft 28 and arm 2 are permitted to move vertically downwardly by action of lthe cam 33, the end extremity 46 of the outer section will engage the arm Stand move the same: aboutvthe pivot 3l in a clockwise direction sufficiently so as to be overbalanced bythe weightedy arnrl 3S. The end extremity of the a-rm- 38: will engage against the base of the support 36- as-seen in Fig. 2 and arrest movement. of memben 35 and position the arm 39 to extend horizontally. in the path of the downward movement ofthe ar-m 2. The arm 39 will remain in this position until reset and will block the engagement ofthe arm 2l' vviththe interceptor associatedwith the-particular yblocking memberI associated therewith upon subsequent rotation of lselector 2J. When the selector ismoved upwardly out ofengagement with the chosen interceptor. thefend portion ll-S of the` selector will engagethe. arm; 35 and be moved therebyaboutthe pivot.. Mina counterclockwise direction until .suflicientv movement has occurred thereinfor thesameto escape, from beneath arm. 39.l Y

After a suicentnumberof the interceptors have been moved to close the switches associated therewith, the interceptors. maybe. movedv to initial position by means cfa-platel di whiclnis sl-idably mounted for vertical: movement. on. a bearing support fi-B depending from theintermediate deck It. This plate il is of a diameter to extend beneath heads 2l of. the` interceptors and isprovided. with a dependinghub fill# having an annulargroove E@ providedtherein. Aicollar. 5I secured to the bearing support I3V provides. an abutment against which the plate lil. rests. A lever 52 is pivoted as at 53 to a depending bracket 5ft and is provided with spacedAearsy SEL From these ears there extend pins or trunnions: 56 which engage in the slot 50. To reposition the interceptors to initial position, the lever 52.- is manually raised and through `the-pin connection 56 will move the plate 41 vertically to engage the heads 2| of the interceptors and raise the same to initial position.

Each blocking member 35 has a pin 5l extending therefrom and provided with an eye in which is secured an end of a cord 58. The cord passes through aligned openings 59, B0, in the decks l2 and I4. The lower end of the cord is knotted as at 6I and supports a washer 52. An annular plate 63 is slidably mounted on the bearing support 48 and has a boss 64 depending therefrom, the lower end of which is provided with an annular groove 65. This annular groove is engaged by trunnions 66 extending from a hand operating lever 51 which is pivoted as at 68 from a support 69 depending from the lower deck I3. This plate 63 is provided with opening l0 which aligns with the openings 59, 60 and through which the cord 58 passes. Moving the lever 61 in a downward direction will move the disc 53 downwardly to engage the `washers 62 and exert a pull on the cords 58 to swing the blocking mem-hers to initial position. The disc 53 is returned and retained in its normal position by means of a compression spring Il surrounding the boss 5d and acting between the lower deck I3 and the plate 63.

In Fig. 6 I have shown an individual board which is to be placed before a player. There will be a plurality of such boards one for each player. Each board is divided so as to provide ve vertical and five horizontal rows of squares.

The square will be numbered with a numeral chosen Within a particular range of numerals, for example, from 1 to 75. The numbers which are selected for each of the squares will be so selected that each game board will be different. In each square a lamp 'I2 will be mounted and all of the lamps from the numbered squares from all of the play boards will be electrically connected to be controlled by one of the switches 23 so as to be lighted as a group when the particular switch '23 is actuated by the movement of the interceptor associated therewith. For instance, if the interceptor selected were that operating the switch 23 controlling the lamps on squares Number 1, all lamps for Number 1 squares would be lighted, such for instance as the lamp designated 13, 13' and 13" in Fig. '7. Were another interceptor selected, a similar switch 23 would be closed and in this instance the lead W would cause all lamps 'Hl to be lighted. Similarly other lamps 'l5 will be connected to switch 23" through lead W. The electric circuit includes energizing means 16 ground as at 11 and has a common lead 18 to all of the ground portion of the switches. It will be understood that there will be as many interceptors and switches as numerals in the particular range of numerals chosen.

In playing the game of Bingo or similar games with the apparatus herein described, the player chooses a play board or boards which have been previously arranged in proper supports, such as a table and the like. The motor is set in action and through the cam action the selector arm 21 is actuated to move to select an interceptor and move the same to close the switch associated therewith as previously described. The dwells on the cam are chosen to permit ample time for the arm 21 to come to rest after free rotation prior to being raised out of contact with the interceptor so as to move an interceptor a suicient distance to permit the spring 25 of the toggle switch to be positioned to nish the movement of the switch arm 24 to close the circuit as is common in toggle type switches. This action will continue until all the lamps of a play board have been lighted in a previously dened order. The rst board so lighted of course wins the game. The interceptors and switches are returned to initial position in the manner previously described for the start of each new game.

During the play of the game the operator may at will reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 3l by manipulation of switch 3Ia in the motor circuit so that chance selection of an interceptor may be increased.

I claim:

l. A game comprising a bank of movably mounted interceptors for a movable element mounted for positive and free rotational and gravitational movement, driving means engageable with said movable element for rotating said element over said interceptors, and means operable for disengagement of the driving means from said movable element to permit free movement thereof over said interceptors and gravitational movement of said element toward said A interceptors to contact and move one thereof upon said element coming to rest.

2. A game comprising a bank of movably mounted interceptors for a movable element, mounted for positive and free rotational and gravitational movement, driving means engageable with said movable element for rotating said element over said interceptors, means operable for disengaging the driving means from said movable element to permit free movement thereof over said interceptors and gravitational movement of said element toward said interceptors to contact and move one thereof upon said element coming to rest and means responsive to the movement of said interceptors to actuate L i: an electric circuit, including a plurality of lamps.

3. A game comprising a bank of movably mounted interceptors for a movable element mounted for positive and free rotational and gravitational movement, driving means engageable with said movable element for rotating said element over said interceptors, means operable for disengagement of the driving means from said movable element to permit free movement of said element and gravitational movement of said element toward said interceptors to contact and move one thereof upon said element coming to rest, means responsive to the movement of said interceptors to actuate an electric circuit including a plurality of lamps, and blocking means movably mounted and positioned in the path of movement of said element to be engaged thereby and moved in position to block engagement of said element with a once moved interceptor.

4. A game comprising a bank of movably mounted interceptors for a movable element mounted for positive and free rotational and gravitational movement, driving means engageable with said movable element for rotating said element over said interceptors, and cam means for disengaging said driving means to permit free movement of said element over said interceptors and gravitational movement of said element towards said interceptors to engage therewith and move one thereof upon said element coming to rest.

5. A game comprising a bank of movably mounted interceptors for a movable element mounted for positive and free rotational and gravitational movement, driving means engage'ablet Withasaid. movabley elementv for rotatingv saint` element over saidiinterceptors, camf means, operablefor the disengagement of said driving means-,to` permit freemovement: of said element..

over said interceptors andA gravitational movement of said elementv towards said interceptors toengage therewith andmoveone thereof upon said element coming to rest and blocking meansv movably mounted and operable by saidelement to bemoved` into position to blockv engagement.

operable for disengagementy of said frictionalmeansto permit free rotation and gravitational movement of saidl element toward said interceptorsto Contact andv move one thereof upon said elementl coming to rest.

7. A game comprising a bankof movably mountedinterceptors,` an arm` mounted for positive" and.` free rotational movement over said interceptors, drivingv means, means connecting said. arm to said drive means for rotating said arm' over andout of contact with said interceptors, meansfor'disengagingv the rst said means With said driving means-to permit free rotation and gravitational.v movement of said arm towards said'interceptors to contact.v and move one thereof upon-said arm cominglto rest, and means responsivev to the movement of said interceptors to actuatefan electricv circuitr including` a plurality of-ilamps'.

8.2 A game comprisingk a bank of movably mounted interoeptors,V an arm. mounted for positive-andfree rotational movement over said interc'eptors, driving means, frictional operated means engagealtilewithr said driving :means-fofd rotating said arm over said interceptors;. cam'- operated means: forV disengaging the frictional operated' means from said driving, means to with said interceptors andy movek onel thereof upon said: arm coming to rest.

9. Ax game; as set forthy in claim 1y wherein said-.- interoeptors comprise rods vertically disposed;

l0: A- game. as: set fort-hv in' claimy 1 wherein guides:l are positioned between interceptors:

1l. Ay game as setr forth in claim 10 wnereinl the said'. guides are: V-shaped.

12. A game comprising anvelectric' circuit/in"- eludinga plurality or lamps and switchesg a con--v tactfor' each' ofsaid switches; an element mountedl for rotationalr movement over said contacts andv4 for gravitationalv movement towards saidy coni-` taets, driving, means,- means forV connectingr said: driving means-to said element for thev positive? rotation of saidk element andl means` for dis engagingv said'l driving means-from said element to. permit free rotation and gravitational movement of said element toward and into engagement withlsaidf'.contactsI tofmove one thereof` to actuate the switoh controlledl therebyfuponsad' elementi coming: to rest.

CHARLES BEN'KER.

REFERENCES' GI'JFBEDl Thek following* references are of record in the le' of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1*,144'g051'; Okamoto June 22, 1915 2;'333g002` Coloborodko v Oct. 26, 1943 

